1. CORPS DE LA P IX DES ETA S-UNIS D'AMERIQUE
DESCRIPTION OF PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER SERVICE
Mark Huelsenbeck
Years of Service: 2011-20 14
Republic of Benin, West Africa
After a competitive application process stressing applicant skill, adaptability, and cross­
cultural sensitivity, PCV Mark Huelsenbeck began a la-week Peace Corps Pre-Service
Learning on July 1,20 II in Republic of Benin. Training included an extensive module in
French and local languages (190 hours) and Cross Culture (35 hours) focusing on
Volunteer's integration into his community and host institution.
Trainees received Technical Training (87 hours) in environmental techniques including
natural resources management methods, environmental education. Training on Personal
Health (30 hours) (tropical diseases, disease prevention and treatment measures) and,
Safety and Security issues (26 hours) were also included.
Mark Huelsenbeck also participated in additional In-Service Training workshops to
further develop his language, techni~1 and cross-cultural skills (grant writing, project
design and management and, Life Skills: HIV/AIDS and youth development). He
successfully completed training and was swornin the Peace Corps on September 16,
20 11.
PCV Mark Huelsenbeck was sworn-in as an Environmental Action (EA) volunteer on
September 16, 20 11. He was assigned to the central Beninese town of Dassa, where he
was partnered with the local NGO, DCAMIBETHESDA.
SUMMARY OF PEACE CORPS SERVICE
During his three years of service, Mr. Mark Huelsenbeck accomplished the following:
Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Program Coordinator
(May 2013- October 2014)
Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment is a cross-sector program priority of Peace
Corp Benin. As the coordinator of the Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment
program, Mr. Mark Huelsenbeck accomplished the following:
• Organized and facilitated trainings with 60 volunteers on how and why gender can
be incorporate into projects and ideas for activities that increase access to
-opportunities, skills development and lead to empowerment of girls and women in
their communities.
• Planned, implemented and monitored core Gender Equality and Women's
Empowerment programs, including a Girls' Scholarship Program, a Girls'
Internship Program and two Take Our Daughters to Work Day events.
• Reviewed and provided feedback for over 50 project grants.
01 B.P. 971 Recette Principale, Cotonou, BENIN
Tel. ; (229) 21.31.38.93/55.75/47.93 - Fax; (229) 21.31.01.92

2. • Organized three fundraisers that generated over $10,000 to finance GenEq activities.
• Built and maintained strong relationships with host-country partner organizations
• Produced a 13-minute film about a Beninese girl who, despite extreme poverty
and many obstacles, had the courage and determination to stay in school and
get a good education. The film serves as a tool for volunteers and counterparts
to facilitate discussions in their communities on gender inequality and the
importance of girls' education.
Environmental Consultant and Educator for DCAM/BETHESDA, an NGO focused
on community development, sanitation and natural resource management, in a town of
over 20,000 people
1n order to meet community needs related to the environment and food security, Mr.
Mark Huelsenbeck helped DCAMIBETHESDA implement an improved environment
program that included the following:
• Facilitating a weekly environmental club with 20 junior secondary school students
• Constructing compost tumblers"and training local gardeners how to use them to
produce compost .
• Producing and commercializing Moringa powder with 10 women
• Organizing and assisting in the planting of over 500 Moringa trees at local social
center and 200 trees a local secondary school
• Organizing and managing a week-long environmental camp with 37 secondary school
student
• Constructing soak away pits at 23 households
• Designing and implementing seed distribution network
• Building improved cook stoves
"Amour et Vie" (Love and Life) Community Activities (September 2012- August
2013)
Under the auspices of Population Services 1nternational (PSI), created, supervised, and
counseled a team of two young adult peer educators who presented information sessions,
in the village ofTre on sexual health (especially the prevention and treatment of
HIVIAIDS), the prevention and treatment of malaria, and the prevention and treatment of
diarrhea-causing diseases. Target groups saw a fifty percent increase in correct responses
on a general knowledge questionnaire. The team participated in the sale of PSI products
and the distribution of 100 mosquito nets and 200 packets of Aquatabs (water purification
tablets) to mothers with young children.
-Care Groups Plus (December 2013 - September 2014)
Helped spearhead a pilot project launched by Population Services International (PSI) and
Peace Corps to improve the knowledge and behaviors related to health and hygiene in
communities throughout Benin. Formed and supervised a group of 10 women who
educated the population on various health topics, including diarrhea prevention and how

3. CORPS ELA P IX DES ETATS-UNIS D'AMERIQUE
to purify water and sold PSI products such as Aquatabs and Orazel, thereby increasing
the accessibility and availability of these products.
Teaching English at the University in Dassa (October 2012 - May 2014)
Designed curriculum for and taught English course to 169 university students 5 days a
week for I hour a day.
Computer Lab for Secondary School
Installed a computer lab in largest secondary school in community. Lab is equipped with
10 computers, Internet, 2 photocopiers and 2 printers. In collaboration with community
partners, organized and facilitated free classes on Microsoft Word and the Internet for
over 2000 students.
Free Summer Classes (August - September 2013)
In collaboration with 11 students fr~ the university of Dassa, designed and
implemented one month of free summer classes for secondary school students. Classes
were held 4 days a week. Classes included Physics, Math French and English. 67 students
attended classes regularly.
Camp GLOW
Participated in a camp for girls and invited two girls to participate. Facilitated session on
hygiene and sanitation.
Camp GRACE
Participated in a camp for boys and invited two boy to participate. Facilitated session on
Moringa.
Girls' Soccer Club
Co-facilitated girls' soccer club and organized three matches between other girls' soccer
clubs.
Scholarship Girls Program (September 2012 -September 2013)
Provided scholarship package to secondary school girl. Acted as mentor to girl -throughout the academic year, meeting with her regularly to tutor and engage her in
activities aimed at building life skills. Designed and implemented a community tree
planting project with girl.
01 B.P. 971 Recette Principale, Cotonou, BENIN
Tel. : (229) 21.31.38.93 /55.75/47.93 - Fax: (229) 21.31.01.92

4. .'
Student Internship Program (July - August 2013)
Selected and supervised secondary school girl to pal1icipate in Stu,dent Internship
Program. This program aims to expose exceptional young women in Beninese high
schools to professional work environments that focus on girls' empowerment and gender
issues. Through collaboration with NGOs across Benin, SIP gives young women the
opportunity to work in an NGO environment led by positive female role models. Girls
Jearn practical job skills including typing, photocopying, taking phone calls, and filing
paperwork. Importantly, by learning about the activities of the NGO, each intern will
better learn her rights as a child and her future rights as a woman and a wife. After
learning about the NGO activities, each intern has the opportunity to work with NGO
employees to plan and execute one of the NGO's workshops or information sessions.
Through this participation, the interns gain skills in project planning, public speaking,
public translation, or handout creation.
Science Scholarship Competition
In collaboration with students at the university in Dassa, organized a competition for
secondary school girls who I) studJ1;cience and 2) were passing into the final year of
secondary school. At the end, 6 girls will be selected and each girl received a scholarship
of$80. Funds were mobilized from a third-paI1y.
Peace Corps Volunteer Training, Month, 2013
Assisted in the Trainees' In-Country Orientation, and instructed Peace Corps trainees in
the following subjects: Design and implementation of animal husbandry projects
Presentation at American Cultural Center (July 2013)
Participated in a panel discussion at the American Cultural Center on campus life in US
students. The discussion was for Beninese students going or interested in going to the
United States to study. Spoke for 30 minutes about personal experience at university,
cultural differences between Beninese and American students and the importance of
cultural exchange on campuses. 34 students attended the event.
RETURNED PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER EMPLOYMENT STATUS
Pursuant to Section 5(f) of the Peace Corps Act, 22 USC §2504(f) as amended, any
former Volunteer employed by the United States Government following his Peace Corps
Volunteer service is entitled to have any period of satisfactory Peace Corps Volunteer
service credited for purposes of retirement, seniority, reduction in force leave and other
-privileges based on length of Government service. Peace Corps service shall not be
credited towards completion ofthe probationary or trail period of completion of any
service requirement for career appointment.
This is to certify in accordance with Executive Order No. 1I 103 of April 10, 1963, that

5. CORPS DE LA P IX DES ETATS·UNIS D'AMERIQUE
His service ended on October 16, 2014. He is therefore eligible to be appointed as
career-conditional employee in the competitive civil service on a non-competitive basis.
This benefit under the Executive Order entitlement extends for a p~riod of one year,
except that the employing agency may extend the period for up to three years for a former
Volunteer who enters military service, pursues studies at a recognized institution of
higher learning, or engages in other activities which in the view of the appointing
authority warrants extension of the period.
to /{~ /2cJ 1lt
Country Director Date.
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01 B.P. 971 Recette Princlpale, Colonou, BENIN
Tel. : (229) 21.31.38.93/ 55.75 / 47.93 - Fax: (229) 21.31.01.92